Surprise!

Well well well.

So I found out my husband, in-laws, parents, friends and other family are all capable of pulling a fast one on me. I never in a million years thought I could be surprised by a surprise party. My husband knows this. In fact, I am a great surprise party thrower... I "get" it. But throwing the party after another party that was distracting me was genius. I was so into the other party, and stress over finding the right make up, the right way to wear my hair and getting my husband suitably dressed preoccupied me to an extent that I wasn't at my sharpest. Looking back, there were a few clues that I missed.

Having said that, please do not mistake my surprise at the ability to surprise as anything negative.

I came home from the Christmas party the following afternoon, still not feeling 100%. I had a wicked hangover that I did not deserve. The kind that *some* people actually pitied me for because I really did not over indulge that much. I rushed into a house filled to the brim with family and friends and children. I was so overwhelmed and vulnerable I thought I might cry on the spot, especially when I saw my father, stepmother and little brother. The thought that so many people were there just to celebrate me, that some would travel 1000 miles to see me... I am still feeling overwhelmed.

I don't think I have ever had a better weekend. It started with dinner out on Thursday, a day to myself including a spa trip on Friday, followed by a Christmas party and surprise hotel room upgrade, the wonderful surprise party and then finished up with family games night and some alone time with my husband...chilling out and watching tv.

Today I am trying to find my house, I know it's buried here someplace...

I want to send a huge thank you out to my friends and family who actually do read this and who showed up for that party. I've never felt so loved and cared about. And I am totally okay with turning 30, life only gets better and better.

To tie this in with Christmas, I would like to extend my best wishes to you for a Christmas that leaves you feeling loved as well, and with a peaceful feeling of anticipation for the future. And I should mention my birthday is on Christmas Day.